National Chats for Change
The National Chats for Change sessions are available to all in the medical education and health care communities.
We invite you to share these sessions widely with your colleagues and encourage them to join us in these national conversations.
Chats for Change | National Edition
Summer/Fall 2024 Schedule
Two new series
Leading on Unsettled Ground
The ground beneath us is shifting. In fact, it has never stopped shifting from the days of the first abolitionists through the Civil War, the Civil Rights Movement, and our own post George Floyd era. This history has been punctuated by all sorts of challenges and today is no different, including Supreme Court decisions, state-specific legislation, lawsuits by interest groups, and geopolitical crises, all of which impact our nation’s perspectives on diversity, equity and inclusion. Let’s come together to discuss how all of us are impacted by, and will navigate, these uncertain times.
In the news
The media is a powerful socialization tool that creates unspoken attitudes, beliefs, and narratives through messages and images. We often do not stop, reflect, and analyze how the media impacts us as individuals and the environments in which we work and learn. This series will deconstruct noteworthy topics related to racism and bias in medicine and medical education. The topic will be shared one week prior to each session.
Love this series? Join us for the Mindfulness Moments limited Series here.
Chats for Change | Summer/Fall 2024
June 2024
Manage the Emotional Temperature
When a person’s emotional temperature spikes, nothing rational is happening and one’s response is often based on pure emotion. When this starts to happen, it’s a good sign the discussion might be losing its civility. Join us as we examine how to identify the various heat levels, or signs that things are becoming heated, and uncover strategies to adjust the heat level and promote civil discourse.
Facilitators: Ann-Gel Palermo, David Muller, MD & Leona Hess, PhD
Wednesday, June 5 at 12 pm EST | Join us on Zoom.
July 2024
Expanding Inclusion: What does this term mean for anti-racism work?
Join us for a thought-provoking discussion as we delve into the evolving landscape of inclusivity, exploring its nuances, challenges, and opportunities in unsettling times. Together, let’s redefine what it means to truly embrace ‘expansive inclusion’ as a new dimension in addressing racism and bias.
Facilitators: Ann-Gel Palermo, David Muller, MD & Leona Hess, PhD
Wednesday, July 3 at 12 pm EST | Join us on Zoom.
August 2024
In the News
Join us as we critically deconstruct a current newsworthy topic related to racism and bias in medicine and medical education. What’s in the news? Join us in August as we explore cultural wars. The dialogue will focus on two articles: Culture wars: How identity became the center of politics in America and Will voters in 2024 election be swayed by culture war issues?
Facilitators: Ann-Gel Palermo, David Muller, MD & Leona Hess, PhD
Wednesday, August 7 at 12 pm EST | Join us on Zoom.
September 2024
Locating the DEI Conversation: Where is your institution at?
Embark on a journey of introspection with us and explore the current state of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) within your organization or institution. Join the dialogue as we review five different stages of the DEI conversation and interrogate what it means for our work in addressing racism and bias.
Facilitators: Ann-Gel Palermo, David Muller, MD & Leona Hess, PhD
Wednesday, September 4 at 12 pm EST | Join us on Zoom.
October 2024
In the News
Join us for the In the News series as we critically deconstruct a current newsworthy topic related to racism and bias in medicine and medical education.
This month we are focusing on the recent NYT article: Affirmative Action Was Banned. What Happened Next Was Confusing. The article discusses the impact of the recent Supreme Court decision on college admissions across several states, focusing on how these changes have affected campus diversity. The authors highlight various strategies being employed while also addressing concerns about equity and representation in higher education.
Facilitators: Ann-Gel Palermo, David Muller, MD & Leona Hess, PhD
Wednesday, October 2 at 12 pm EST | Join us on Zoom.
November 2024
After Election Day – What Comes Next?
We’ll use this time to discuss what comes next for the country and ourselves as we deconstruct the presidential election and its ramifications. We’ll explore what is says about who we are and the times in which we are living.
Facilitators: Ann-Gel Palermo, David Muller, MD & Leona Hess, PhD
Wednesday, November 6 at 12 pm EST | Join us on Zoom.
December 2024
The rise of the Health Equity Officer role and Mimetic Isomorphism: What is at stake for anti-racism work?*
Join us for a compelling discussion on the emergence of the Health Equity Officer role and its implications for anti-racism efforts. Explore the concept of Mimetic Isomorphism (the tendency of an organization to imitate another organization’s structure because of the belief that the structure of the latter organization is beneficial) and its influence on organizational structures in medical education and healthcare. What’s at stake for anti-racism work as these roles evolve?
*inspired by this article: The Rise of the School District Chief Equity Officer: Moving Beyond Mimetic Isomorphism and Promoting Anti-Racist Systemic Change
Facilitators: Ann-Gel Palermo, David Muller, MD & Leona Hess, PhD
Wednesday, December 4 at 12 pm EST | Join us on Zoom.
January 2024
In the News
Join us as we critically deconstruct a current newsworthy topic related to racism and bias in medicine and medical education. The topic will be shared one week prior to the session.
Facilitators: Ann-Gel Palermo, David Muller, MD & Leona Hess, PhD
Wednesday, January 8 at 12 pm EST | Join us on Zoom.
Reflection Corner
How much time do we have before interest in, and tolerance of, anti-racism wanes?
Inspired by the African proverb: “If you want to go fast, go alone, if you want to go far, go together”, this year’s theme will focus on cultivating a community of practice.
Let’s engage in collective problem-solving. Let’s seek shared experiences and learn from each other. Let’s break out of our silos and exchange information. Let’s discuss new developments and celebrate our wins. Let’s grow our confidence and ability to do this work together.
Learn more about how this can be possible with our RBI Resources.
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